Increased consumption of potassium-rich foods that are part of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet did not raise blood potassium to dangerous levels in people taking medications to lower their blood pressure, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. The findings address a longstanding concern that combining the DASH diet with certain blood pressure drugs and pain relievers could trigger hyperkalemia, a condition that can disrupt the heart’s rhythm.
The study, a secondary analysis of the GoFresh and GoFresh Rx randomized trials, examined 356 Black adults in the greater Boston area with high blood pressure. Half received three months of weekly DASH-patterned groceries, providing about 4,700 mg of potassium daily and a 2:1 potassium-to-sodium ratio, while the other half received a cash stipend to buy their own groceries without nutrition counseling. Blood potassium levels were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks.
Researchers focused on participants taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), potassium-sparing diuretics, beta blockers, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), all of which can increase potassium retention. At the start, average serum potassium was normal: 4.16 mmol/L in the grocery group and 4.18 mmol/L in the stipend group. After three months, there was no significant increase in potassium levels among any medication subgroup or between the two study arms.
“The DASH diet is a well-known, proven nutrition pattern that is known to improve blood pressure,” said Marian Budu, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., a clinical research coordinator on the GoFresh Trials at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and the presenting author. “However, dangerous potassium levels can occur in people taking blood pressure medications and NSAIDs. Knowing that the DASH diet did not increase blood potassium levels in this population with normal baseline potassium levels provides assurance that the DASH diet can be prescribed to a wide range of people.”
The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy while limiting red meat, salt, and added sugars. It aligns with the American Heart Association’s 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health. The Association has separately promoted related efforts, including research showing that reducing sodium in everyday foods may yield heart-health benefits across populations and that for Black adults in food deserts, food delivery & dietary guidance reduced blood pressure.
“The original GoFresh trial was successful in improving blood pressure when following the DASH diet,” said Kevin Volpp, M.D., Ph.D., a volunteer expert with the American Heart Association and scientific lead of the Association’s Health Care by Food initiative. “This follow-up study is important because it confirms that significant increases in potassium did not occur with the DASH diet, even for patients on medications that might contribute to increased potassium levels. Managing and monitoring potassium levels is key because they have a direct impact on heart function.”
The researchers noted limitations: the study excluded people with stage 4 or stage 5 kidney disease or elevated baseline potassium, and the population was limited to Black adults in Boston, so results may not be generalizable. Future research should confirm the findings in adults with suboptimal kidney function and higher baseline potassium levels.
The abstracts will be published in the Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2026 Supplement of the Hypertension journal. The study was funded by the American Heart Association, whose overall financial information is available here. Additional health information on potassium is available through A Primer on Potassium.
